Trunk.



C; D. BARKSDALE.

TRUNK.

APPLICATION FILED 1AN.29. I917.

Patented May 1, 1917.

wvewiioz C LEM ENT Douqms BHRK5DHLE TlllfE ATg ATENT nnrn.

CLEMENT D. BARKSD ALE, OF PETERSBUBG, VIRGINIA.

TRUNK.

menses.

Application filed January 29, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLEMENT DOUGLAS BA'RKSDALE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Petersburg, in the county of Dinwiddie and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trunks, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in trunks, and more particularly to a wardrobe trunk of that type wherein the front consists of two hinged, relatively movable sec tions. I

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide simple, effective and easily operated means for holding a series of sliding drawers in one of the trunk sections against relative shifting movement.

It is another and more particular object of the invention to provide a drawer holding or retaining means of the above character which is operable from a standing position to simultaneously coact with all of the drawers in a series and hold or retain the same against movement with respect to each other or the trunk section in which they are mounted.

It is a further and more specific object of the invention to provide a simple and inexpensive device for the above purpose consisting of a single panel or door of artistic construction, and means for effectively looking the same in the trunk section immediately contiguous to the front ends of the drawers mounted therein.

WVith the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrange ment of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure; 1 is a perspective view partly broken away, showing my present invention as applied in practical use;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 5 designates one section of a wardrobe trunk, wherein a series of drawers 1) are suitably mounted, in any approved manner for relative sliding movement. a

In trunks of this type, it has heretofore been usual to provide means for separately locking or holding the several drawers, and in such operations, the user must bend or stoop in order to lock the lowermost draw- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 11, 1917.

Serial No. 145,272.

ers in the trunk sections. This invention .is devised with a view to obviating this stooping or bendlng and the physical dis-,

stantially equivalent to the interior dimen sions of the trunk section. .The central portion of this panel is cut-out, as at 7, and the panel itself is covered with paper, fabric or other material of an artistic charactor. The opening in the panel is also covered by a heavier fabric 8, preferably plaited, said material being suitably se cured to the inner face of the panel around the edges of the opening therein.

To the bottom wall of the trunk section 5, along its outer edge and in spaced relation to the front wall of the lower drawer, a bar or cleat 9 is secured. A suitable keeper 10 is fixed to the under side of the top wall of the trunk section at its front edge. At the upper end of the panel 7, upon the inner face thereof, a bar 11 is secured to bear against the front wall of the upper or top drawer. A suitable spring lock 12 is centrally mounted in this bar at the upper edge of the panel.

In the use of the invention, when the series of drawers have been arranged in superposed relation within the trunk section, the lower edge of the panel 6 is engaged behind the cleat 9 and the panel moved inwardly until the spring locking bolt snaps into the keeper 10, in which locked position'of the panel the bar 11 is engaged with the uppermost drawer. The other drawers are held against outward movement by the panel or frame 6. The panel may be readily removed by first operating the lock with the necessary key, whereby access can be at once had to any one of the several drawers. This arrangement of the drawer holding panel in place or its removal is performed from a standing position, and the entire series of drawers are securely locked or held in place by the two simple operations of first inserting the lower edge of the panel behind the cleat 9, and then moving the panel into the open side of the trunk section against the series of drawers. When the trunk is open in the room, the single panel or door, constituting the closure for the open side of one trunk section, presents an attractive appearance.

Fromthe foregoing description, taken in individual drawers.

connection with the accompanying drawing, the construction, manner of use and several advantages of the invention will be clearly understood. The device provides simple, inexpensive and effective means for easily and quickly locking the series of drawers within the trunk section and holding the same against relative movement, during the ban dling of the trunk in transportation. By the use of said device, much discomfort is obviated in the locking and unlocking of the It is further manifest that the invention being of such a simple nature will not add materially to the manui'i'acturing cost of trunks of this type. WVhile I have herein shown and described the preferred construction and arrangement of the several elements employed, it is to be understood that the device is susceptible of considerable modification therein and I therefore reserve the privilege of adopting all such le itimate changes as may be fairly embodied within the spirit and scope of the invention, as claimed.

Having described this invention, what is claimed is 1. The combination with a trunk section adapted to receive a series of drawers arranged in superposed relation, of a removable panel adapted for insertion in the open side of the trunk, to retain the series of drawers therein, a eleat secured to the bottom wall of the trunk section at its forward edge in spaced relation to the contiguous drawer and between which and the drawer one edge of the panel is adapted for inser tion, said panel being movable to a vertical position within the open side of the trunk section, a bar fixed to the inner face of the panel at its upper edge and adapted to enthe front wall of the uppermost drawer, and means mounted in said bar to lock the panel at its upper end to the top wall of the trunk section.

2. The combination with a trunk section adapted to receive a plurality of drawers arranged in superposed relation, of a rectangu lar open panel, a sheet of flexible material secured to one side of the panel and covering the opening therein, a eleat secured to the bottom wall of the trunk section at its forward edge in spaced relation to the contiguous drawer, the lower edge of the panel being adapted for insertion between said cleat and the drawer, and said panel being adapted to be moved to a vertical position within the open side of the trunk section, a keeper fixed to the top wall of the trunk section, and a spring locl'cing bolt mounted upon the upper edge of the panel for engagement with said keeper to lock the panel in place, in front of the series of drawers.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CLEMENT I). BARKSDr-UiE. lVitnesses MARY H. BIRD, VIRGIE S. VAUGHAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

